Juvenile Integrated Treatment Court
Policies Procedures Manual
Table of Contents
I. Planning Team
II. Mission Statement
III. Goals Objectives
IV. Statement of Common Ground
V. Structure/Model
VI. Target Population
VII. Eligibility Criteria & Disqualification Criteria
VIII. Roles Responsibilities
IX. Entry Process
X. Flow Chart
XI. Court & Treatment Phases
XII. Sanctions Incentives
XIII. Treatment Protocols
XIV. Supervision Protocols
XV. Testing Protocols
XVI. Evaluation Design
XVII. Memoranda of Understanding
XVIII. Ethics Confidentiality Statement
Planning Team
Distribution List Name: Juvenile Court Working Group
Members:
Roxanne Bailin
Marcy Becker
Dana Bickham
Greg Brown
Ted Bradshaw
Susan Caskey
TJ Cole
Debra Crosser
Barrett Dunn
Chris Estoll
Anne Hyink
Wendy Ingham
Suzy Kennedy
Jen Leosz
Peter Maguire
Amy Mailander
Brant McClung
Harry McCrystal
Maria Campos Mozo
Ann Noonan
Kate Parker
Megan Ring
Carissa Sears
Sharon Sandoval
Eileen Saunders
Kit Thompson
Peggy Wallis
Eric Weisman
Debra Welsh
Jennifer Williams
Mission Statement
The mission of the Juvenile Integrated Treatment Court is to integrate substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, intensive family services, intensive supervision, and substantial judicial oversight for juveniles and their families who are involved in the juvenile delinquency system in order to improve individual and family functioning and promote public safety.
Goals & Objectives
Goals are general statements about what you need to accomplish to meet your purpose, or mission, and address major issues facing the drug court.
Objectives are specific activities or action steps to implement each goal. Exactly what you will attempt to accomplish for whom and in what time period – set of measurable situations, which when achieved will satisfy need.
To be inserted at a later time.
Statement of Common Ground
1. The partner agencies endorse the goal of sobriety.
2. The partner agencies endorse relapse tolerance with the following measures of success:
a. Reducing the number of relapses
b. Increasing the length of time between relapses
c. Reducing the length of relapses
d. Reducing the severity of the type of drug used during relapse
3. The partner agencies endorse the use of brief sanctions that do not interfere with the progress of the child in recovery or destabilize the child.
4. The partner agencies endorse the use of sanctions and incentives to change behavior.
5. The partner agencies endorse returning the child to treatment after sanctions.
6. The partner agencies to do not endorse ever-increasing punitive sanctions except as they maximize success.
7. The partner agencies agree that sanctions should be imposed according to the needs and behavior of each individual child.
8. The partner agencies endorse using incentives and rewards whenever possible to achieve compliance.
9. The partner agencies agree that conduct other than substance use is important in evaluating a child’s progress on probation, including their engagement level in treatment, school attendance, and following the rules of home or placement.
10. The partner agencies agree that each treatment plan should set distal and proximal goals that change over time to achieve good outcomes.
11. The partner agencies agree that families must be involved and receive treatment as necessary.
Structure/Model
The JITC will be a probation/deferred adjudication revocation court.
Target Population
The JITC will target juveniles who meet criteria for substance abuse or dependence who pose a high risk of criminal behavior to the community.
Eligibility Criteria
In assessing whether to exercise or waive a disqualification in the District Attorney’s sole discretion, the District Attorney should consider each case on its individual merits, the immature development and behavior prominent in juveniles, the juvenile’s amenability to treatment and risk assessments, and treatment recommendations made by any predisposition treatment evaluation or program, including but not limited to any psychosexual evaluation.
1. Resident of Boulder County and not in Out-of-County placement
2. Open JD case – Not a Direct File case
3. Meets diagnostic criteria for substance abuse or dependence
4. Diversion, Deferred Adjudication, of Probation violation pending
5. Adjudication or Deferred Adjudication for current offense(s) is/are not for one of the following unless waived by the District Attorney:
a. Criminal enterprise drug sales
b. Vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, homicide or other crime involving serious bodily injury or death
c. Sex offense under C.R.S. Section 18-1.3-1003(5)(a), or any crime with an underlying sexual factual basis
d. Crime involving possession, display, use or threatened use of a firearm
e. Residential burglary when entry is into the main living space of the occupant and Juvenile is not a member of the family of the occupant
f. 1st degree arson
6. The underlying facts, as supported by probable cause, of any of the charged offenses do not involve death, serious bodily injury, or bodily injury caused by a deadly weapon; nor the possession, display, use or threatened use of a firearm, unless waived by the District Attorney
7. Pending felony charges may cause suspension or termination in the discretion of the Court, on a case by case basis
8. If public funds will be used, eligible for substance abuse and/or mental health services
9. Not subject to a C.R.S. Section 27-10-101, et seq. mental health hold
10. Not subject to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Hold
11. Out-of-county placement post-admission into JITC may cause suspension or termination in the discretion of the Court, on a case by case basis
Entry Process
When juveniles are facing revocation of their diversion sentences, deferred sentences or are facing a revocation of probation, the probation officer uses a new complaint form that would indicate that the juvenile is JITC eligible using the eligibility criteria (Note: any veto that can be exercised by the DA will not have been considered yet) and request a JITC screen. The probation officers will discuss options with the parents and juveniles during the first court appearance after the complaint is filed. The family will receive the handbook.
At the violation hearing or appearance, the following options will be available:
1. If everyone agrees at the hearing that the JITC is appropriate, the parties can stipulate to the JITC subject to the juvenile being accepted. The matter is set over for a SMART review. (These would likely be cases in which all of the appropriate assessments had been completed at an earlier time.) The matter is set for further proceedings in front of the JITC judge on a non-JITC docket. At the JITC hearing, if SMART has recommended JITC, and the JITC judge accepts the recommendation; the JITC judge will accept the admission and place the juvenile on probation with conditions including successful completion of the JITC. The matter will be set for JITC Court Review.
If SMART does not recommend the JITC or the JITC judge does not accept the recommendation of SMART, but the parties still feel that probation is appropriate, the JITC judge can impose probation with conditions. Any complaint for violation of the conditions would go back to the original judicial officer.
If the District Attorney is not willing to stipulate to probation upon admission, the matter will be sent back to the original judicial officer for hearing or further negotiations.
2. If there is no stipulation at the hearing or appearance that the JITC is appropriate, the matter will be set over for two to three weeks before the JITC judge. The juvenile and family can be referred for any assessments that have not been done. A SMART review will be scheduled, and the recommendation can be made to the JITC judge at the next appearance.
If SMART does not recommend the JITC or the JITC judge does not accept the recommendation of SMART, but the parties still feel that probation is appropriate, the JITC judge can impose probation with conditions. Any violation of the conditions would go back to the original judicial officer.
If the District Attorney is not willing to stipulate to probation upon admission, the matter will be sent back to the original judicial officer for hearing or further negotiations.
If the Juvenile is accepted, he/she is given a daytimer with all required appointments and court appearances.
Sentencing information is entered into the computer by clerk.
Juvenile and family meet with probation officer after court to sign terms and conditions, contracts, and waivers.
Flow Chart
1. By Wednesday of each week, each reporter (Probation Officer, BCPH, MHCBBC, DSS) will complete the Client Contact Form and provide it to the JITC Judge’s Law Clerk. The Probation information will include the UA/BA/other monitoring information.
2. By Thursday afternoon, the Judge’s Assistant will compile the information on the Court Summary Form and distribute it to the JITC Team members including the Judge.
3. The Judge’s Court Judicial Assistant will prepare the JITC docket and cross-check it with the Law Clerk. The Law Clerk will send the docket to the Team. If any member of the team disagrees with the docket, he or she will inform the Law Clerk. If changes in the docket are made, the Law Clerk will send the docket again.
4. The Law Clerk will be present during the pre-court staffings and will take notes to be used to complete the Minute Order and the Post-Court Review Information Form.
5. The Law Clerk will be present during the Court Reviews and complete the Post-Court Review Information Form. He/she will send this form to the designated deputy district attorney and the designated public defender or private defense counsel after court with a copy to the JITC Judge . He/she will complete the Minute Order for the Court file.
6. The Law Clerk will send the information required for data entry for data analysis purposes to the ITC Coordinator who will then send it to the designated person at IMPACT for entry into the data base.
7. Information continues to be exchanged by email throughout the week as needed with copies to all members of the team as well as the deputy district attorney and defense counsel.
8. If any member of the team believes that a juvenile should be seen by the Judge earlier than his or her usual docket, a request shall be made to the JITC Judge with copies to all members of the team. The juvenile may be added to an earlier JITC docket at the discretion of the Judge.
Court Treatment Phases
Probation Supervision / JITC Court Phases / ISIS Treatment / ITOP Treatment / FFT TreatmentPhase 1 4 weeks in length; attendance & family engagement = success; a substantial pattern of sobriety; bi-weekly reviews - meet 1 of 3 goals; / Level 1 8 weeks in length; 5 contacts / week; minimum of two weeks sober; must complete and present drug and alcohol autobiography; / Level 1 12 weeks minimum length; 2 contacts / week; minimum of 8 weeks sober; must complete graduation packet; / Stage 1 6 weeks average length; Engagement = success;
Phase 2 4 weeks in length; a substantial pattern of sobriety; bi-weekly reviews - meet 1 of 3 goals;
Phase 3 4 weeks in length; a substantial pattern of sobriety; bi-weekly reviews - meet 2 of 3 goals; / Level 2 8 weeks minimum length; 3-4 contacts / week; minimum of 4 weeks sober; complete relapse prevention plan; / Stage 2 6 weeks average length; Behavior Change = success;
Phase 4 4 weeks in length; a substantial pattern of sobriety; bi-weekly reviews - meet 2 of 3 goals;
Phase 5 4 weeks in length; a substantial pattern of sobriety; bi-weekly reviews - meet 3 of 3 goals; TDM to establish aftercare plan; / Level 3 8 weeks minimum length; 2 contacts / week; minimum of 8 weeks sober; complete graduation packet; / Stage 3 6 weeks average length; Generalization;
Phase 6 4 weeks in length; a substantial pattern of sobriety; bi-weekly or monthly reviews - meet 3 of 3 goals; 4 weeks practicing aftercare plan; / Level 4 4 weeks in length; 0 contacts required; alumni group / voluntary services; must maintain sobriety; / Level 2 4 weeks in length; 0 contacts required; alumni group / voluntary services; must maintain sobriety; / Stage 4 4 weeks in length; 0 contacts required; alumni group / voluntary services / booster sessions; must maintain sobriety;
Termination / Graduation Total Time: 24 weeks minimum / Graduation Total Time: 28 weeks minimum / Graduation Total Time: 28 weeks minimum / Graduation Total Time: 28 weeks minimum
Family Component
Families will be assessed for appropriate family tracks depending on the functioning of the family, substance abuse in the family, whether the family members are already in treatment, and stages of change. The family component can also be graduated over time.
The JITC will complete an assessment of the family and define the expectations of family participation. The program will develop clear and realistic short term goals. The parents will be introduced to the family support groups and will be expected to attend them.
The family component will focus on process as opposed to content dynamics; that is, how the family communicates rather than what they are communicating. This component will also reduce negatives in the family system with input from all family members focusing on the here and now, what we can do to solve the problems today.
This model is designed to provide each family with tools for coping. It is designed to empower families to solve their own problems utilizing strengths and resources of each household. The JITC will support the family by empowering the parents to be parents and to access the resources of the home and community.
The family component will be provided in Spanish.
Intensive Family Treatment (IFT)
IFT may be used rather than the phased treatment for appropriate families.
FFT Stages/Phases
I. Engagement/Motivation
¨ Create a therapeutic alliance with each member in a way that “matches to…”
¨ Reducing negativity and blaming
¨ Problems are defined differently and new solutions to old problems seem possible.
¨ Motivate clients to come back-reduce drop out
¨ Understand problem/family/social context (assessment)
II. Behavior Change
¨ Develop and implement individual change plan that targets presenting problem by reducing family risk and building family protective factors.